-LRB- CNN -RRB- Republican operatives linked to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have launched a new super PAC focused on keeping the Senate in GOP hands in 2016 , when they 'll face a much tougher map and a political climate that favors Democrats .

The new super PAC , called the Senate Leadership Fund , will work with American Crossroads , another major GOP super PAC , to defend Republican-held seats and help nominate the most electable candidates in primaries to contest Democratic-held seats , according to a source familiar with the group 's plans .

The source said the group will operate largely in general election and open-seat primary battles , but may also engage in defense of incumbents facing primary challenges .

American Crossroads will also be heavily engaged in the GOP presidential general election fight , and Republicans will have 24 seats to defend in 2016 -- far more than the 10 Democrats must defend , and many in blue-leaning or purple states that are more favorable to Democrats in a presidential year .

Senate Leadership Fund will aim to pick up some of the slack at the Senate level , and will coordinate messaging , media buys and fundraising with American Crossroads . Stephen Law , McConnell 's former chief of staff who currently heads up American Crossroads , will also sit on the board of the Senate Leadership Fund .

`` The U.S. Senate is under new management -- and is taking on President Obama 's freedom-constricting , big-government agenda , '' the group 's website says . `` As a new , independent super PAC , the Senate Leadership Fund has one goal : to protect and expand the Republican Senate majority when Harry Reid , Elizabeth Warren and their army of left-wing activists try to take it back in 2016 . ''

According to the New York Times , which first reported news of the group 's creation , McConnell and his allies have conceived of the group as an answer to the Senate Majority PAC , the Democratic super PAC launched by operatives with ties to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid that engaged heavily in Senate races this past cycle .

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Allies of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are launching a super PAC focused on Senate races

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Their aim is to keep the Senate in GOP hands as Republicans face a tough map for 2016

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The group will coordinate with American Crossroads , another GOP super PAC